Wash temperature guide
Wash temperature is shown as dots (US) or degrees (international). Here's how they line up — and when to go colder than the label allows.
Dots and degrees
On US labels, the dots inside the washtub set the maximum temperature: 1 dot is cold (about 30°C / 85°F), 2 dots warm (40°C), 3 dots hot (50°C), and it climbs from there.
International labels skip the dots and simply print the number — 30, 40, 60 — in degrees Celsius. It's the same information, written differently. The symbol always shows the maximum, so washing cooler is fine.
Which temperature to use
Cold (30°C) protects color and elastane and prevents shrinking — good for darks, denim and anything delicate. Warm (40°C) is the everyday middle ground for mixed loads.
Hot (60°C and up) is for sturdy whites, towels, bedding and anything you want to sanitize. It fades color and can shrink, so save it for robust cottons.
When to go colder
Modern detergents work well in cold water, so washing below the label's maximum is almost always safe and saves energy. The reverse is not true — exceeding the marked temperature is what shrinks and damages fabric.
Guidance follows American Cleaning Institute , Woolmark care guides and FTC Care Labeling Rule . A guide, not a guarantee — always defer to your garment’s own care label.